WSU event to focus on public health ethics and climate change

April 11, 2014

FAIRBORN — According to a recent report by the United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, in this century, the escalating impacts from climate change are projected to slow economic growth and poverty reduction efforts, further erode food security and exacerbate economic disparities. Globally, the effects will be unevenly distributed such that many of those who contribute the least to climate change will disproportionately suffer the consequences.

A Public Health Grand Rounds, “Climate Change and Public Health: Uncertain Ethics for Uncertain Times,” will explore the question of how the local public health community should respond to climate change.

The event will be from 3-4 p.m. Tuesday, April 15, in the Discovery Room at the Wright State University Student Union. Health professionals, educators, students and interested community members are invited to attend the event, which is free and open to the public.

The speaker is Mary T. White, Ph.D., director of the division of medical humanities and professor of community health at the WSU Boonshoft School of Medicine. The presentation will review the most recent scientific evidence and consensus statements, the projected impact of climate change in Ohio, key ethical perspectives relevant to climate change and some specific assets and challenges to effective adaptation in Dayton.

“At issue is whether the enormity of the challenges posed by climate change call for a different understanding and expansion of public health’s ethical responsibilities,” White said. “Participants will be invited to discuss this and how the local public health community should respond to climate change.

Public Health Grand Rounds, a lecture series presented by the Master of Public Health Program of the Center for Global Health at the Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine, seek to inform health professionals about public health topics related to health promotion, disease prevention and workforce development.

Free parking is available in Visitors Lot 2 next to the WSU Student Union. For more information, contact Cyneca Reed at the Center for Global Health at 937-258-5555 or cyneca.reed@wright.edu.